In 2023 I had been struggling trying to lose a little weight because the 2021 holiday season had gifted me a big belly that I couldn’t seem to lose. In 2023 was trying Intermittent Fasting (IF) because fasting had always helped me when I needed to lose a few pounds quickly, but I had never thought of fasting as part of my lifestyle.
Intermittent Fasting and My “Aha” Moment
All that changed in 2023. My granddaughter was trying to lose weight, and I joined her. She showed me a fasting app that we both used. And a month later she was down 10 pounds. But not me that stubborn weight wasn’t going anywhere.
Seven months later after sticking to the 16/8 fasting plan I had actually gained a few pounds. And I couldn’t figure out why. So I went all in, fasting and exercising for three days a week and yes, that worked. I went from fat-fat to fat, just in time for the 2023 Holiday season. And you guessed it in six weeks of holiday eating I gained it all back.
I was furious. I started the IF plan again in the new year 2024, but again it wasn’t working. By February I was angry and done with all that fasting nonsense. I just resigned myself to wearing clothes that didn’t make me look too fat.
Then one day I started reading a book that led to me to understand my problem. I was eating all the wrong foods. My diet consisted mainly of sugar and highly processed carbohydrates, and I was and am addicted to those foods. My food choices were not only increasing my weight, they were destroying my overall health. But I’m happy to say that I learned to manage my addiction and get the weight off. And I’m excited to share my journey with you.
Understanding the Problem
Once I understood the full nature of my problem I signed back into the IF app and restarted Intermittent fasting. I select the 16/8 hour fast because I like it best. 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating provides me with enough time to relax and eat socially. And it allows my body the time it needs to stop processing food and attend to its health maintenance duties. Did you know that your body has the means to maintain health? But it can’t do that if you are forcing it to focus on processing energy by constantly raising your insulin levels. That was my problem. I was turning my body into a fat storage machine. The Intermittent Fasting part was easy for me, but the processed sugar/carb addiction was and is a lot tougher.
The cravings are real. They can feel like intense hunger pangs, and it feels so normal to satisfy them. Even if it means sacrificing your health and well-being. And then there’s emotional eating – processed sugars and carbs are comfort foods. They are imbedded in our hearts and minds as nostalgic reminders of happier times and as our go to coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and boredom.
How are we going to beat that! It’s a vicious cycle that most of us will never escape. But what’s even scarier than being addicted to sugar and highly processed carbs? The impact that being addicted to them has on our weight and health. Excessive sugar consumption leads to weight gain, insulin resistance, and a higher risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Don’t get me wrong! I didn’t quit sugar. I don’t know how, because it’s always going to be in the food I eat, love and remember. What I did was manage my sugar intake with mindful eating strategies and techniques. I still allow myself to eat pie and drink eggnog, but not as often or as much. Which gets easier as I go along because one side effect of not eating processed sugar is that you can taste the sweet so much better when you do eat it. What used to be enough is too much so that helped me to lower my intake of sugary foods naturally.
The Real Food Solution
My original method to eliminate processed sugars and carbs was simple. I replaced the high processed food and sugars with real food. Real food is anything with one or more ingredients that you recognize as food. I think the best real foods are those with one ingredient like apples, avocadoes, broccoli, spinach, lettuce – you know food made by Yahweh Elohim (God). The stuff your body was made to use for fuel.
My main withdrawal symptoms were hunger, fatigue, and headaches. I struggled in the beginning, and I still do at this time of year, the holiday season. But I my mindset changed. I focus more on Yahweh Elohim (God) and how I was created to eat real food. The most noticeable result so far is that I went from fat-fat (169 pounds) to fat (148 pounds) with what felt like minimal effort. It was more of a natural result of my lifestyle change and I feel more confident and in control than I’ve ever been on any diet.
I realized that my processed sugar/carb addiction was holding me back from being the best version of myself. And my addiction to sugars and carbs had been going on for as far back as I can remember. I was someone who preferred the dessert table over all other foods and I paid the price. I had a huge big ol belly, and I didn’t know why. I could diet and exercise it smaller but it was always proportionately big compared to the rest of me – even in childhood.
Mindset and Lifestyle Changes
As I stated earlier the processed sugar/carb habit is not just about the food itself, but it also about the emotions and habits behind it. I was using processed sugar/carb foods as a comfort. So, this time while I was doing IF I also worked on my mindset, utilizing payer, practicing self-care and finding healthier ways to cope with everything, and especially eating.
Thanksgiving was just over a few weeks ago and I must say I had my share of banana cream pudding, pumpkin spice cake and numerous other goodies. I didn’t try to resist all those delicious homemade sweets because I only get to eat like it’s Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday season once a year. Also I know that if I deprive myself of that delicious food now I will seek it out later. But I realize I can’t eat like that on a regular basis, regardless of wat I was eating I stuck to my fasting. There may have been a day when it was a14 hour fast, but I never just shut it off and forgot about it. It’s a way of life for me now and I like it. I like the weight I lost. I like my daily meals, and I like being able to enjoy some sweets and carbs every now and then.
My Results and Achievements
I started this journey to take control of my belly and my life. I opted for a real food diet and it has been incredibly liberating. Instead of cookies and chips, I have apples, oranges, grapefruit, and a variety of nuts. I have finally broken free from the chains of processed sugar and carbs that I didn’t even realize were hurting me so badly just a few months ago, and it feels amazing.
A few weeks ago, I hit a major weight loss milestone – I weighed in at 148 pounds down from 169! Yes, the scale topped out at 172, but I’m not claiming that water weight. Watching the numbers go down was a huge confidence booster, and it motivates me to keep going. I feel like I have finally taken control of my weight, and it is life changing. I’m so excited, I’m telling everybody about it and that includes you. I did it and you can too.
You Can Take the First Step Towards a Healthier Lifestyle Today
Breaking free from processed sugar and carbs is not easy, but it’s worth it. It takes determination, and a willingness to change. But the benefits are – weight loss, improved health, and a newfound sense of control, confidence and self-worth. If you’re struggling with having a big belly and eating too much processed sugar and carbs, I encourage you to take the first step today. You got this!
If you’ve battling processed sugar/carb addiction or have a similar story, please share it in the comments below.